Credit Card Thread - Now with a Beginner's Guide to free travel/FAQ

Discussion in 'The Mainboard' started by blind dog, Apr 10, 2015.

  1. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    arrdub likes this.
  2. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
    Donor

    I can not support using chase points for cash back
     
    Jimmy the Saint and Lyrtch like this.
  3. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Just each get your own. You can even refer her next year

    Also unless you're cash strapped don't you dare cash out for money
     
    Lyrtch likes this.
  4. Uncle Tupelo

    Uncle Tupelo Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCleveland Browns

    Don't cash out UR points at 1 cpp. Literally thousands of dollars of value lost doing that.
     
    arrdub likes this.
  5. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Not on 80k but yes still a bad investment
     
  6. arrdub

    arrdub Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Florida State Seminoles

    3 kids, 2 with private school tuition. So yes cash strapped with no personal travel plans involving airfare or high end hotel in next couple years. We do beach house rentals in driving distance where UR points don’t have utility. Airfare x5 is just huge obstacle. And spending that much with young kids who won’t remember or value it is out of sorts. Going overseas is a coupe years out.

    When youngest is in school wife may re-enter workforce and change circumstances a bit/unlock more significant travel options, or my income could continue to climb. Just resigning that we’re on a 2 year or so proximate no fly zone.

    So with that additional context... much less utility from personal flights or hotels for next 2-3 years.... Is the above at least an accurate assessment of value?
     
  7. C A N E

    C A N E Let justice be done though the heavens fall
    Donor
    Miami HurricanesMiami Heat

    Moorea is definitely on the list. Heard it’s incredible. Anything you can recommend would be awesome. Doing the overwater bungalow for three nights in bora bora :rain:
     
  8. C A N E

    C A N E Let justice be done though the heavens fall
    Donor
    Miami HurricanesMiami Heat

    Luckily capital one venture card will pay for a nice chunk of one night in bora bora.

    Ya know, since I’m a loyal customer.
     
  9. i am a bammer

    i am a bammer Ben Eblen>Jamychal Green
    Donor TMB OG
    Alabama Crimson TideSan Diego Padres

    If it's right for you, don't listen to the nerds in this thread. If making your wife happy is worth a suboptimal value on your points, go for it.
     
    Oranjello and arrdub like this.
  10. Uncle Tupelo

    Uncle Tupelo Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCleveland Browns

    Yeah I was thinking if you cashed out all your UR bonuses from churning
     
  11. Uncle Tupelo

    Uncle Tupelo Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCleveland Browns

    Definatly do what works for you in your situation. If you don't have any plans to travel in the next few years it makes more sense to cash them out. Just realize that the cash out value is the the lowest you can get generally.

    If you're looking to maximize cash back for phone and internet stuff. The chase ink cash card gets 5x back on those with no annual fee. Lower welcome bonus and doesn't have the phone insurance though.
     
  12. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    To be fair we basically all say that
     
    Arkadin, arrdub and i am a bammer like this.
  13. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
    Donor TMB OG
    Texas LonghornsManchester United

    What hotels/resorts? TIA
     
  14. Josey Wales

    Josey Wales Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Just curious for those folks who are not churning, but do have multiple cards. Which ones are you pairing?

    Looking like Sapphire Reserve makes sense, and then adding...
     
  15. i am a bammer

    i am a bammer Ben Eblen>Jamychal Green
    Donor TMB OG
    Alabama Crimson TideSan Diego Padres

    If you travel a lot, whatever your hotel and airline preferences are and the corresponding cards for those.
     
    Josey Wales likes this.
  16. Josey Wales

    Josey Wales Well-Known Member
    Donor

    If I understand the Ultimate Rewards partners correctly, I can use them for Hyatt and Marriott for hotels and then Southwest and United for airlines I'd most likely use.

    So basically, if I really like American or Southwest--grab another card for them. I do really like Delta, though. Is having a Delta Sky miles card dumb, since I think my Reserve card wouldn't also accumulate points toward flights with them?

    Edit: I believe I wasn't seeing an exhaustive list. It appears you can redeem Ultimate Rewards for Delta. So then it's really just deciding if I like Southwest or Delta better to decide which additional card makes sense.
     
  17. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    The most value you can pull over five years by number of cards, in my opinion:

    1. CIP
    2. SW double dip
    3. SW double dip and CIP
    4. SW double dip, CIP and CSR
    5. Above and Hyatt if you don't travel for work or Aspire if you do

    This is very general and doesn't apply to everyone
     
  18. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    is SW worth if you don't really fly SW? haven't looked into their travel partners or anything
     
  19. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    They have no travel partners. But the companion pass is the biggest money saver in the game for couples in southwest markets
     
    i am a bammer and Lyrtch like this.
  20. Josey Wales

    Josey Wales Well-Known Member
    Donor

    To clarify, CIP is Chase Ink Preferred, and is that the ordered you would get new cards over the next 5 years or just a combination of those plays?
     
  21. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Yes.

    And that's "if you only want one card get...if you want to only open two cards get..."
     
  22. Josey Wales

    Josey Wales Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Ok, makes sense. So if you're doing 3 cards, then in your mind, SW double dip and CIP > SW double dip an CSR?
     
  23. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
    Donor
    Oklahoma State CowboysHouston AstrosHouston TexansTiger Woods

    I use my CSR for all travel related purchases, unless I'm buying flights on United and might potentially check a bag, then I'll use my United Explorer card. United is our general preferred airline, so that card made sense since we can transfer UR points to them. I also like that card for the two annual United Club passes as there's a couple domestic airports we layover in occasionally that the Priority Pass is not useful, so that is worth the $95 fee to me. I also chose Hyatt as our main hotel for the 60k bonus but also since it's a Chase transfer partner as well, and the free night once a year justifies that annual fee. My Freedom Unlimited is my every day spend card and I try to get the max value out of the Freedom 5% categories. I plan on keeping the CIP and put both of our cell phones on it so $95 annual fee for double insurance is great
     
  24. i am a bammer

    i am a bammer Ben Eblen>Jamychal Green
    Donor TMB OG
    Alabama Crimson TideSan Diego Padres

    Is there a way to double dip SW without a business application?
     
  25. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
    Donor
    Penn State Nittany LionsGreen Bay PackersChelseaHartford WhalersPhoenix Rising

    I book all travel on the CSR, even if it “costs” me a checked bag occasionally. Having that travel delay reimbursement has saved my ass numerous times now.
     
    ohhaithur likes this.
  26. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    No
     
    i am a bammer likes this.
  27. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Yes. 80,000>50,000 by so much that makes up for everything else

    Edit: assuming you have another card with priority pass
     
    #8577 ohhaithur, Dec 8, 2018
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2018
    Josey Wales likes this.
  28. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
    Donor
    Oklahoma State CowboysHouston AstrosHouston TexansTiger Woods

    The United card has delay coverage as well. I will qualify my statement though and say the only times I've done that have been when I've taken my golf clubs and was in a place where I didn't need that coverage; if and when I take a bigger golf trip overseas I'd likely use the CSR
     
    Jimmy the Saint likes this.
  29. Josey Wales

    Josey Wales Well-Known Member
    Donor

    I’ll need to do a side by side compare before pulling the trigger, but I don’t have a priority card.
     
  30. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideSeattle MarinersAtlanta BravesNew Orleans Saints

    1. CSR
    2. AmEx Blue Cash Preferred (3:1 on gas and groceries, but really only get cash back)
    3. Alaska Airlines (annual companion pass)
     
  31. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    It would take years to counteract a bonus on 3x groceries. You'd need to spend five figures
     
    BamaNug likes this.
  32. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideSeattle MarinersAtlanta BravesNew Orleans Saints

    Would it be better to use the CSR for UR points?
     
  33. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    No but if you're opening up a card you take the csr bonus and forget about the pennies you're losing on groceries

    $1200 now and 1.5% back v. $200 and 3% back

    You'd need to spend $66,667 at the grocery store (without spending any money at restaurants or in travel) to catch up to me. Plus CSR's many other benefits that justify the fee
     
    Lipp, PAHokieinRVA and BamaNug like this.
  34. two

    two Hello
    Donor TMB OG
    Game of ThronesGrateful Dead

    If I hit a bonus in 2018 but the statement closing date is 2019 that bonus would be applicable to 2019 correct?

    Scenario: Have the Delta Reserve and want to make sure the 15k MQM hit my account in Jan so they don’t go to waste in this calendar year.
     
  35. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Correct. That's why southwest double dippers open cards in December
     
    ANTWONE likes this.
  36. Phi Mus Love Boones Farm

    Phi Mus Love Boones Farm Well-Known Member
    Donor TMB OG
    Auburn TigersNew Orleans Saints

    I'm a med student graduating in May and looking to take better advantage of points/cash back. I've read the OP and done a bunch of research but got a few questions.
    current financial situation: 100k student loans, two cards 1. Wells Fargo college card (oldest card keeping open for the history) 2. Chase freedom unlimited (applied last week, the card should come in the mail this week. $200 back after spending 500 in first 3 months sign up bonus)

    1. Churning is basically applying for cards for the signup bonuses and using that as your primary card until you hit that mark then basically rinse and repeat, correct?
    2. Plan was to apply for the CSP this summer once I can more comfortably hit the $4,000 signup bonus mark (really should have done this for interview season) to be able to convert my rewards from the CFU to UR rewards. Would this be the best move?
    3. As someone planning on spending only around 1500/month, would it be better to just focus on chase UR, or would churning still be beneficial? My concern is basically my rewards would be diluted over several programs and wouldn't be able to use them as efficiently

    Looking for most bang for my buck, not one specific thing
     
    ohhaithur likes this.
  37. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    meeting minimum spend requirements on a resident salary won't be easy unless you have a spouse and doubt you'd be able to leverage points/free nights of a hotel card that well until post residency due to lack of time off flexibility

    can do lower minimum spend req cards to stockpile points, most would say wait to do CSR/CSP until you can double dip but if you got one or the other now then downgraded by end of residency you could do the double dip then (verify this).

    can churn it'll just be slower and need to really make sure you can hit spend (or god forbid manufacture spend)

    could have crushed a CSR/CSP double dip in interview season, think when wife was interviewing we dropped like 10-15k.

    i like having diverse buckets of points as long as I can keep the accounts and points active
     
  38. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Lyrtch gave a good answer but to add, bonuses are always more valuable than regular spend. You'd make maybe 30,000 UR ($450) per year on your projected spend. That's less than most bonuses alone. $1500/mo can get you $4500 in bonuses pretty easily

    Dilution is real but the value difference is so large it doesn't matter
     
  39. Phi Mus Love Boones Farm

    Phi Mus Love Boones Farm Well-Known Member
    Donor TMB OG
    Auburn TigersNew Orleans Saints

    Thanks for the responses
    The flexibility thing of intern year is a good point. I'm doing Urology (hopefully) which is 5 years so I could do the get CSP now then downgrade and double dip when I start making some real money. I should have another 1500-2k/year in educational stipends that the programs will reimburse me for that would also help with spend requirements. Plus reimbursement for going to conferences.
    Also yeah I probably cost myself easily a grand by not researching this before interview season. Or with boards for that matter
     
  40. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    Wife's residency booked cme stuff unfortunately
     
  41. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideSeattle MarinersAtlanta BravesNew Orleans Saints

    So I'm a little lost.

    I'm not opening up anything, I was just responding to the cards I regularly use (CSR, AmEx Blue Cash Pref, and I have my netflix on autopay on my Alaska air card, only use it for the companion pass).

    I use my AmEx for gas and groceries only. Literally every other purchase I put on my CSR. Would I be better served to ditch the AmEx and use the CSR solely, or do I get more value with my current situation?
     
  42. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
    Donor

    He gave a list of things to open. Think you misunderstood and posted a list of what you use, and he thought it was a list with the same parameters as his.
     
    ohhaithur and BamaNug like this.
  43. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideSeattle MarinersAtlanta BravesNew Orleans Saints

    Yea I don't really churn or open up cards anymore. Maybe in the future for a specific trip I have in mind, but I spend a shitload on my CSR and accumulate points pretty fast. Even though the Blue Cash Pref is only cashback, it also accumulates pretty fast (Whole Foods cunt :rain:)
     
  44. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
    Donor

    You really should be crushing AA cards with your travel addiction tbh
     
    ohhaithur likes this.
  45. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideSeattle MarinersAtlanta BravesNew Orleans Saints

    American Airlines? Got some options to look at this rainy Sunday?
     
  46. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
    Donor

    You basically just sign up for their 60k when you spend 3k in 3 months offer and then keep opening up new cards when you hit the bonus. Can do like 6 a year and just cruise through points
     
    Buzz and BamaNug like this.
  47. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideSeattle MarinersAtlanta BravesNew Orleans Saints

  48. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
    Donor

    Yeah. Looks like they lowered it to 50 but I get 60 mailers all the time. You want to sign up for that, then message them and say you saw online a 60k offer and ask them to match. They will

    Then sign your dog up for an Aadvantage account and you'll get the mailers and have unlimited codes to keep opening new ones. I'm on like card 9 or so about to open a new one. Ohhai is on 12 or so probs
     
  49. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideSeattle MarinersAtlanta BravesNew Orleans Saints

    Is it strictly American Airlines flights, or is it like the Chase UR portal?

    I'm sure AA has some partners, too. Was thinking for international
     
  50. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
    Donor

    They're AA points but they have a ton of partners. You can use the British airways booking portal and it will populate all their partner flights. AA portal doesn't do that by itself
     
    BamaNug likes this.